Fought (75) (agonizomai from agon = conflict or the place of assembly for the athletic contests and then a reference to the contests which were held there) literally was used in the public games to describe one engaging in a contest or contending for a prize, and was especially descriptive of the exhausting struggles and sufferings of the athletes and gladiators (this latter group fighting even to their death at times - can we apply this figuratively to our Christian life as soldiers of the cross?). Indeed, Paul used this meaning of agonizomai as a term of comparison to explain the lifestyle called for in a believer's life (1Co 9.25). Figuratively, agonizomai was used of any heroic effort and so meant to strive earnestly, make every effort, try very hard (Col 1.29). Agonizomai was used of fighting with weapons, describing a literal fight or struggle (Jn 18.36). Figuratively, agonizomai was used to describe great nonphysical effort and struggle and so to strive earnestly or do one's very best (Col 4.12) The literal sense of to contend with adversaries, is carried over into the spiritual realm where we are to contend for truth (exerting strenuous, even painful effort) and struggle with difficulties and dangers antagonistic to the gospel. And so agonizomai is the picturesque verb Paul choose to describe Epaphras wrestling in his prayers for the saints at Colossae. Have you ever prayed for others in this way, even to the point of agonizing in great agony (both English words derived from the root word "agon")? Wuest - Agonizomai was a term used in Greek athletics. It meant “to contend for victory in the public athletic games, to wrestle as in a prize contest, straining every nerve to the uttermost towards the goal.” Agon is the noun which speaks of the conflict or contest itself. Agon was used in pagan Greece to refer to the place of a contest, the lists, race course, the assembly at the national games, a struggle, battle. The first-century Roman world was acquainted with these Greek athletic terms, for the Greek stadium was a familiar sight, and the Greek athletic games were well known in the large cities of the Empire. The Bible writers seized upon these terms, and used them to illustrate in a most vivid manner, the intensity of purpose and activity that should characterize both Christian living and Christian service. The present day football game is a fair example of the terrific struggle for supremacy in the Greek athletic games that was commonly seen by the first-century stadium crowds. The point is that if we Christians would live our Christian lives and serve the Lord Jesus with the intensity of purpose and effort that is put forth in a football contest, what God-glorifying lives we would live. Agonizomai was a familiar term in writings of both military and athletic endeavors and was used to emphasize the concentration, discipline, conviction, and effort needed to win in both arenas. It pictures a runner straining every nerve to the uttermost towards the goal. Agonizomai was used in secular Greek meaning to contend for the prize on the stage, both of the poet, etc., and of the actor. Agonizomai was used in secular Greek in the context of public speaking meaning to contend against, as law-term, to fight a cause to the last and to fight against a charge of murder. Agonizomai means to exert oneself, to fight, to labor fervently, to strive (devote serious effort or energy = implies great exertion against great difficulty and suggests persistent effort), to struggle, to contend with an adversary - all of these actions picturing an intense struggle for victory. When we find that the gloves of the Greek boxer were fur lined on the inside, but made on the outside of ox-hide with lead and iron sewed into it, and that the loser in a wrestling match had his eyes gouged out, we come to some appreciation of what a Greek athletic contest consisted of and of the effort such a contest would motivate! Agonizomai here in second Timothy 4 is in the perfect tense which indicates a past completed action with ongoing effect and thus pictures the contest as having begun with intensity (the moment Paul was saved the "bell rang" beginning "round one"!) and which persisted to the end of his life. The use of this verb implies hindrances in the development of the Christian life. Paul is reminding us that faithful Christian ministry is not easy. It takes courage and expenditure of great effort to run the Christian race successfully, albeit that effort ultimately being in the power God supplies (Php 2:12, 13, 4:11, 12, 13-see notes Ph 2:12; 13; 4:11; 12; 13; He 13:21-note; Zech 4:6). Paul's entire life had been given fully to the struggle even as Olympic athletes give their body, mind and spirit full to their specific sport. Paul thus engaged in a ceaseless, strenuous conflict, wrestling with Satan and his minions, with evil men (2Ti 2:17, 18, 3:5, 13" class="scriptRef">13, 4:14-See notes 2Ti 2:17; 18; 3:5; 13; 4:14), with "the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places" (Ep 6:12-note) and even his own flesh writing that "I buffet my body and make it my slave" (1Co 9:27-note) Should Timothy do any less? Should we, dearly beloved of God? Wuest's translation conveys the sense of the perfect tense - I like a wrestler have fought to the finish and at present am resting in its victory" (Comment: This was no small accomplishment, for Paul had encountered and overcome many obstacles along the way as described in 2Cor 11:23-28). Agonizomai is used 8 times in NT in the NT (see below) and is translated: competes in the games, 1; fight, 1; fighting, 1; fought, 1; laboring earnestly, 1; strive, 2; striving, 1. Luke 13:24 (note) Strive (present imperative) to enter by the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. Hughes: The Lord’s call to “make every effort to enter” (Lk 19:24) or “strive to enter” (rsv) is the Greek word agonizomai, from which we get our word agonize. This is the kind of moral effort necessary to enter the kingdom. “We are not saved by effort, but we shall not believe without effort.” In light of what is at stake (Heaven or Hell) and in light of the finality of eternity, we cannot strive too much to get through the narrow door. It must be sought with all that we are. The Word must be mined. Prayer ought to be perpetual. (Hughes, R. K.. Luke : That you may know the truth. Preaching the Word). John 18:36 Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, then My servants would be fighting, that I might not be delivered up to the Jews; but as it is, My kingdom is not of this realm." Comment: Agonizomai was used in secular Greek in reference to literal fighting with weapons. Jesus alludes to the military meaning in His answer to Pilate's question about what had Jesus done, Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, then My servants would be fighting, (agonizomai) that I might not be delivered up to the Jews; but as it is, My kingdom is not of this realm. (Jn 18:36) If His kingdom were from the world, by now His followers would have assembled an army and fought to release Him. Note that Jesus did not say that He had no kingdom in this world, or that He would never rule on earth. He does have a kingdom in this world, for wherever there are people who have trusted Him and yielded to His sovereignty He is King and one day He shall return as "King of kings and Lord of lords" (Rev 19:16) to establish a righteous kingdom on earth (Da 7:13-28) 1Corinthians 9:25 (note) And everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. Comment: Agonizomai means to contend for a prize in the public games. Thus Paul reminded the Olympic minded Corinthians "everyone who competes (agonizomai) in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable." Holding tightly to liberties and rights that belong to the unregenerate nature is a sure way to ineffectively compete in the race of soul–winning. Agonizomai was used in reference to the athletes who took part in the 26 mile marathon, willing to undergo the most self-denying, "agonizing" discipline to be at their fittest, thereby hoping to win an earthly crown. Colossians 1:29 (note) And for this purpose also I labor, striving according to His power, which mightily works within me. (Click for more notes on agonizomai in this verse) Comment: The conflict could be either outward or inward, fightings without or fears within. Here it is the inward struggle, the wrestling in prayer for the Colossian saints (Lightfoot). Colossians 4:12 (note) Epaphras (Paul's "beloved fellow bond-servant" - see note Col 1:7), who is one of your number, a bondslave of Jesus Christ, sends you his greetings, always laboring (present tense = continually) earnestly for you in his prayers, that you may stand perfect and fully assured in all the will of God. 1 Timothy 4:10 For it is for this we labor and strive, because we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of believers. 1 Timothy 6:12 (note) Fight (present imperative) the good fight of faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. Comment: Figuratively, agonizomai speaks of applying one's faith in perseverance amid the continual fight against temptations and spiritual opposition. Agonizomai is in the present tense, imperative mood which commands a continuous effort. Paul is telling Timothy he must keep agonizing like an athlete or soldier, straining and giving his all to win the prize or win the battle Comment: When we find that the gloves of the Greek boxer were fur lined on the inside, but made on the outside of ox-hide with lead and iron sewed into it, and that the loser in a wrestling match had his eyes gouged out, we come to some appreciation of what a Greek athletic contest consisted of. Thus, the word “fight” (agonizomai) had a very definite meaning for Timothy. The verb is present tense, imperative mode, commanding a continuous action. It showed Timothy the necessity for the continuous nature of the Christian’s warfare against evil, and of his desperate effort to live a life pleasing to God. (Wuest's word studies from the Greek New Testament) 2 Timothy 4:7 I have fought (perfect tense) the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith Wuest: the perfect tense, speaking of an action completed in past time with present results. Paul fought his fight with sin to a finish, and was resting in a complete victory. What a happy ending to a strenuous, active, heroic life. He says in his colorful Greek, “The beautiful contest I, like a wrestler, have fought to the finish, and at present am resting in a complete victory.”. This word group is the source of our English words agony and agonize which means to experience pain so extreme as to cause writhing or contortions of the body, similar to those made in the athletic contests in Greece. To agonize also means to strain, to toil, to suffer extreme pain of body or mind or to suffer violent anguish. We begin to get a picture of what Paul meant when he said he had fought. Agonizomai emphasizes Paul’s tireless labor and his struggles against all manner of setbacks and opposition. Speaking again in the context of prayer, Paul uses a related word exhorting the Romans "to strive together (sunagonizomai - Amplified "earnest wrestling") with me in your prayers to God for me" (Ro 15:30-note) Sunagonizomai was used in classical Greek describing the concerted action of a team of athletes in the Greek games and meant to contend along with or to share in a contest. What a "model" for a powerful prayer meeting! Paul asks the Roman saints to wrestle, fight and contend with him in prayer against the opposition of the hosts of wickedness, contending with him as athletes would do with one another, with intensity of purpose and in perfect cooperation. What a picture of prayer! So much of our praying is calm and comfortable, and yet Paul is making allusion to one exerting his spiritual muscles the way a Greek runner would exert himself in the Olympic Games. This does not mean that our prayers are more effective if we exert all kinds of fleshly energy. Nor does it mean that we must “wrestle with God” and wear Him out before He will meet our needs. Rather by using the picturesque verb agonizomai, Paul is teaching that our praying must not be a casual experience that has no heart or earnestness. We should put as much fervor into our praying as a wrestler does into his wrestling! As someone has well said "If church members today put as much concern and enthusiasm into their praying as they did into their baseball games or bowling, we would have revival!" The most dramatic picture of the meaning of agonizomai in the context of prayer, is found in Jesus' agony in Gethsemane where the related word agonia (from agon = context, but giving prominence to the pain and labor of the conflict) is used by Luke who describes Jesus as "being in agony (agonia) He was praying very fervently and His sweat became like drops of blood, falling down upon the ground. (Lk 22:44) Are you beginning to get a picture of the meaning of agonizomai? Agonizomai also means to take pains, to wrestle as in an award contest, straining every nerve to the uttermost towards the goal. Jesus for example when asked to give His thoughts on the question of how many would be saved, made the matter personal, addressing not "how many" will be saved but whether or not "you" will be saved! He went on to instruct them to "Strive (agonize) (present imperative) to enter through the narrow door (Amplified adds "force yourselves through it"); for many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. (Lk 13:24) Agonizomai in this context signifies a great struggle against conflict. Don't be confused because Christ was not suggesting that we should or could work hard enough to merit heaven by striving for it. Scripture clearly teaches that salvation is solely by grace, not by works (Ep 2:8, 9-note). Agonizing to enter the narrow door is a statement which reflects the costliness in terms of human pride, the sinner’s natural love for sin, and the world system and Satan’s opposition to the truth of the gospel which alone saves.